Flower arrangement carrier



June 9, 1959 L. w. ANDRESS 2,839,920

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CARRIER Filed Dec. 15; 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lillian W. Andress INVENTOR.

250 M BM L June 9, 1959 I v w. ANDRESS FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 Lillian W Andress v INVENTOR.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlfl.

United States Patent 2,889,920 r v FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CARRIER Andress, Waco, Tex. Application December 15, 1955, Serial No. 553,241

" 3 Claims. (Cl. cos-45.34

V This invention relates to carriers and particularly to a carrier which is-adapted to support a fragile article While it is in transit.

Certain fragile, easily disheveled articles such as flowers arranged for a flower show, must be prepared and moved from one location to another. Ordinary breezes often are sufliciently forceful to rearrange the petals of the flowers or other parts thereof. Moreover, when the flowers are rested on a solid supporting surface they become flattened and disorganized on one side thereof. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a carrier with a special support in it for more easily retaining the flowers in proper arrangement over which there extends a cover, preferably transparent, and which functions to prevent the breezes and debris fl'om coming in contact with the flowers on their support.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved flower support which is adjustable so that the seat formed in the support may be enlarged or made smaller to accommodate various dimensions of flowers and arrangements of flowers in the most advantageous manner.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become susequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In Figures 1-3 there is a carrier 10. This carrier comprises a tray 12 on which there is cover 14. The tray consists of a flat panel 16 at the edge of which there is an upwardly extending sleeve 18 preferably of short dimension. A laterally extending flange 20 is attached to the outer end of sleeve 18 and provides a shelf on which the lower edge of cover 14 is adapted to seat. Collar 22 parallel to sleeve 18, is fixed to the outer edge of flange 20. Collar 22 has an inner surface which is in frictional contact with a portion of the outer surface of cover 14, holding the latter releasably fastened in place on the tray. A final outwardly extending flange 24 is fixed at the outer edge of collar 22. The sleeve 18, the two flanges and collar 22 may be made in one piece at the outer edge of the tray panel 16. The materials of 2,889,920 Patented June 9, 195%) construction may be selected from many of those available such as metal or plastic.

' ever, the selection of a proper plastic material is preferred; i v

'A support 28 for the flowers is mounted in the tray. 12. The support is formed by a number of springs, for example springs '29, '30; 31 and 32, 'each being interposed in'a wire." For example spring 29 has projecting from its ends wires 34 and 36, eachfbeing formed with an eye to which the spring" ends are connected. Hooks' at'the endsxofthe wires 34 and 36 are mounted in a selected pair of. apertures: These apertures are preferably formed in the flange 20 so that the springs and the wires that constitute support 28 are held a short distance above the inner surface of the tray 12. Accordingly, flowers placed on support 28 are held spaced from the plane surface of tray 12 and are protected by the tray panel 16 as well as the cover 14 during transportation and thereafter, if it is desired to permit the flowers to remain under the cover 14.

In Figures 4-6 a second embodiment of the carrier is illustrated. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of Figures 1-3 almost completely in the overall configuration. Instead of being formed with a circular tray, the tray 50 is rectangular in plan form. Tray 50 has a rectangular bottom or tray panel 52. A vertically rising wall 54 is at the edge of panel 52 and has a laterally extending flange 56 at its upper edge. Collar 58 .is fixed at the outer edge of flange 56 and provides a surface against which the lower surface of cover 60 frictionally contacts. This frictional contact holds the cover 60 releasably secured to the tray 50. An upper flange 62 at the edge of collar 58 provides a hand grip for the user. In this regard hand holding bars 66 and 68 may be attached to the flange 62. This also prevails in connection with the flange 24 in Figures 1-3.

The flower support 70 is identical to the flower support 28 in both construction and function. Support 70 has wires at the ends of which there are hooks, such as hooks 72 (Figure 6), that fit into a selected group of the apertures 74. These apertures are formed in the flange 56, this flange also functioning as a seat on which the lower edge of cover 60 rests. When in place the flower support 70 is spaced a short distance from the upper plane surface of the tray panel 52.

Cover 60 is four-sided, the upper ends of which are curved smoothly to a top apex. The use of the embodiment of Figures 4-6 is precisely the same as the use of the embodiments of Figures 1-3.

Although the materials of construction have been suggested as being of metal and plastic, it is understood that other materials may be used as found desirable. Moreover, the reference to flowers and particular arrangements of flowers is made as a matter of convenience in that the supports 28 and 70 function well for supporting the very delicate flowers and flower arrangements. However, other articles may be supported in the same manner without departing from the invention. Accordingly, reference to flowers herein and in the subsequent claims is not intended to be limiting but rather to be interpreted as an example of one of the many items which may be carried by the supports. Other variations as fall within the scope of the claims may be made without departing from the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a carrier for flowers which are arranged in an orderly manner, a tray provided with a collar, a cover on said tray and having a surface in frictional contact with said collar to lholdtsaid vcover releasablyisecnrred to said tray, said tray having ,near said collar a plurality of apertures, means in selected apertures for supporting the :flowers, said means tinbhldjfig wires, and ispnings aarried by said wires to form agseaton which 40 support the dlowers.

2. The carrier of claim ,-1 wherein said tray has a flange to which said-collar is fixed, and said apertures-beingin said flange. 3. A carrier rforn-a delicate ;ar,tio1e,.3salid,carrier Qme prising a tray, a laterally extending flange, means :connecting said laterallyextendingvflangeito the edge 19f said tray, said flange :having ;an outer edge, aznollar fixed 10 said outer edge of said .flange and presenting a "surface to ;the interior ;part of said stray, :a mover rhaving a wall; saidicover 'Wall being in frictional contact withisaidcsur face of said .collar in .order to releasably' 'attachisaidcover to said tray, means -in said :tray :and .beneath said :cover for supporting the delicate article including a plurality vof wiles spaced from .each other, said flange having -a plurality of apertures therein, and means on said wires releasably fastening said Wires in said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,042 Pullman Mar. 19, 1918 1,462,947 Stuck July 24, 1923 1,781,983 Koch Nov. 18, 1930 2,120,826 Young June 14, 1938 2,155,811 Tredup Apr. 25, 1939 2,193,727 Iouifray Mar. '12, 1940 2,488,243 [Schneir, Nov. 15, 1949 2,521,184 Paige Sept. 5, 1950 2,814,381 Steviek Nov. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 290,817 Great Britain .May '24, 1928 

